</s>. 245 (REV. 4:13:60) H. S. Department of Justir (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION FEDERAL BUREAU of ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HERBIN IS UNCLASGIIFIED INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Serial: A03-2662 Bureau File Number 44-388261 Volume Number See also Nos. DO NOT DESTROY - PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITTEE ASSASSINATORS www.mw.m.n.n .: 18-32850 2026 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential suspects linked to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, focusing on surveillance, suspect descriptions, and inter-agency coordination. On April 9, 1968, North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Harry L. Williams stopped a white male driving a 1955 Dodge in Catawba County, NC, matching descriptions of Eric Starvo Galt (later identified as James Earl Ray). The suspect claimed to be traveling from Georgia to Virginia and presented a Florida driver’s license. FBI memos outline efforts to track suspects, including Ray’s military record, criminal history, and associations with Walter Terry Rife. Leads involving laundries using thermo-seal marking machines and car recoveries in Georgia are noted. Coordination occurred between FBI field offices in Charlotte, Memphis, and Atlanta, with requests for case management data. On April 12, 1968, a flight from Atlanta to Houston observed a passenger seated near Ray, though no conclusive identification was made. Subsequent reports include an anonymous tip on April 22, 1968, describing a man matching Ray’s appearance on Highway 27 near Charlotte with a California license plate KM S347. Witnesses in Charlotte, including Raymond Higgins, identified Eric Starvo Galt at Robertson's Drive-In Restaurant on April 18–19, 1968. Robert Franklin Williams, linked to MLK through familial connections and alleged threats, was investigated for fingerprint matches. The FBI prioritized leads, including border monitoring and distributing wanted flyers for Ray. Joseph L. Baker, a man with failed driver’s exams in Alabama and North Carolina, was compared to Galt but showed discrepancies in physical descriptions and vehicle details. Eugene Hinson of Shallotte, NC, reported suspicious activity on April 3, 1968, involving an individual matching Baker’s description making long-distance calls to Philadelphia. The FBI considered publicizing information about Ray through barber unions and magazines.  

Key People  
- **Harry L. Williams**: North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who stopped a suspect during the roadblock.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Identified as Eric Starvo Galt; linked to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Suspected associate of Ray with potential ties to the murder.  
- **Robert M. Murphy**: FBI SAC overseeing the investigation.  
- **Jerry Wayne Trexler**: Individual associated with a license plate linked to a suspect.  
- **Raymond Higgins**: Witness who reported seeing Eric Starvo Galt at Robertson's Drive-In Restaurant.  
- **Carolyn Ruth Williams**: Ex-wife of Robert Franklin Williams, provided details about his activities and mental state.  
- **Joseph L. Baker**: Falsely linked to Eric Starvo Galt; failed driver’s exams; associated with NCSHP.  
- **Eugene Hinson**: Truck stop owner in Shallotte, NC; reported suspicious individual matching Baker’s description.  
- **A.G. Dunn**: NCSHP examiner who described Baker as talkative and with CB radio call signs.  

Key Locations  
- **Catawba County, North Carolina**: Site of the roadblock and initial suspect stop.  
- **Charlotte, North Carolina**: Central to witness reports, FBI interviews, and license plate investigations.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Mentioned as a destination for investigative materials and MLK’s speech location.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Investigated for Ray’s movements post-1966; site of flight observations.  
- **Faith, NC**: Address linked to Baker’s alleged residence; location of the white Mustang.  
- **Shallotte, NC**: Site of Eugene Hinson’s truck stop where suspicious activity was observed.  
- **Raleigh, NC**: Home to Charles Colquhoun Gates and Lillian Galt’s records.  

Key Events  
- **April 9, 1968 Roadblock**: Trooper Williams stopped a suspect matching Galt/Ray’s description in Catawba County.  
- **April 12, 1968 Flight Observation**: Passenger seated near James Earl Ray observed on an Atlanta-to-Houston flight.  
- **April 18–19, 1968 Witness Identifications**: Eric Starvo Galt identified by witnesses in Charlotte; interviews with Robert Franklin Williams’ family conducted.  
- **April 22, 1968 Anonymous Tip**: Report of a man matching Ray’s description on Highway 27 near Charlotte with California license plate KM S347.  
- **April 3, 1968 Suspicious Activity**: Eugene Hinson reported an unknown individual parking suspiciously at his truck stop in Shallotte, NC, making long-distance calls to Philadelphia.  
- **April 4, 1968 Speech Date Change**: MLK’s original speech date in Wilmington, NC, moved to Memphis, TN, due to racial tensions.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Central authority overseeing the investigation; coordinated with local agencies and disseminated intelligence.  
- **North Carolina Highway Patrol**: Conducted the roadblock and provided suspect descriptions.  
- **North Carolina Highway Safety Patrol (NCSHP)**: Verified driver records and vehicle details for Joseph L. Baker.  
- **U.S. Army**: Mentioned in Ray’s military record, including discharge due to ineptness.  
- **Barber Unions**: Considered as channels for distributing press releases about James Earl Ray.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ce-1365_738554_04-03-part_1_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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